Assembly that enables reduction in disk to disk spacing

ABSTRACT

An apparatus includes a plurality of storage media mounted on a rotatable spindle. The apparatus also includes an actuator with at least one actuator arm configured to translate among the plurality of storage media and at least two heads supported on the at least one actuator arm. Each of the at least two heads is configured to communicate with the plurality of storage media.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 15/965,097which was filed on Apr. 27, 2018, and is incorporated herein byreference in its entirety for all purposes.

SUMMARY

In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a plurality of storage mediamounted on a rotatable spindle. The apparatus also includes an actuatormechanism with at least one actuator arm configured to translate amongthe plurality of storage media and at least two heads supported on theat least one actuator arm. Each of the at least two heads is configuredto communicate with the plurality of storage media.

In another embodiment, an apparatus includes a plurality of storagemedia mounted on a spindle. The apparatus also includes at least oneactuator with an actuator arm configured to translate vertically amongthe plurality of storage media, and at least one head supported on theactuator arm. The at least one head is configured to communicate withmultiple ones of the plurality of storage media.

In yet another embodiment, a method is provided. The method includesproviding a plurality of storage media mounted on a rotatable spindle.The method also includes providing an actuator mechanism having anactuator arm supporting a head. The actuator arm is capable oftranslating vertically among the plurality of storage media. Otherfeatures and benefits that characterize embodiments of the disclosurewill be apparent upon reading the following detailed description andreview of the associated drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrate an example of a data storage device in whichembodiments of the present application can be used.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are schematic illustrations of a data storage deviceaccording to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are schematic illustrations of a data storage deviceaccording to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are schematic illustrations of a data storage deviceaccording to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIGS. 5A and 5B are schematic illustrations of a data storage deviceaccording to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIGS. 6A and 6B are schematic illustrations of a data storage deviceaccording to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIGS. 7A and 7B are schematic illustrations of a data storage deviceaccording to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIGS. 8A and 8B are schematic illustrations of a data storage deviceaccording to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIGS. 9A and 9B are schematic illustrations of a data storage deviceaccording to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIGS. 10A and 10B are schematic illustrations of a data storage deviceaccording to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIGS. 11A and 11B are schematic illustrations of a data storage deviceaccording to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIGS. 12A and 12B are schematic illustrations of a data storage deviceaccording to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 13 is a schematic illustration of a data storage device accordingto an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIGS. 14A and 14B are schematic illustrations of a data storage deviceaccording to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIGS. 15A and 15B are illustrations of a data storage device accordingto an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 16 is an illustration of an elevator for a data storage deviceaccording to an embodiment of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Although the present disclosure has been described with reference toembodiments, workers skilled in the art will recognize that changes maybe made in form and detail without departing from the scope of thedisclosure. The present disclosure relates to reducing disk to diskspacing in data storage devices by using heads translatable among aplurality of disks in a disk drive. However, prior to providingadditional detail regarding the different embodiments, a description ofan illustrative operating environment is provided.

FIGS. 1A and 1B show an illustrative operating environment in whichcertain data storage device embodiments disclosed herein may beincorporated. The operating environment shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B is forillustration purposes. Embodiments of the present disclosure are notlimited to any particular operating environment such as the operatingenvironment shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B. Embodiments of the presentdisclosure are illustratively practiced within any number of differenttypes of operating environments.

It should be noted that the same reference numerals are used indifferent figures for same or similar elements. It should also beunderstood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose ofdescribing embodiments, and the terminology is not intended to belimiting. Unless indicated otherwise, ordinal numbers (e.g., first,second, third, etc.) are used to distinguish or identify differentelements or steps in a group of elements or steps, and do not supply aserial or numerical limitation on the elements or steps of theembodiments thereof. For example, “first,” “second,” and “third”elements or steps need not necessarily appear in that order, and theembodiments thereof need not necessarily be limited to three elements orsteps. It should also be understood that, unless indicated otherwise,any labels such as “left,” “right,” “front,” “back,” “top,” “bottom,”“forward,” “reverse,” “clockwise,” “counter clockwise,” “up,” “down,” orother similar terms such as “upper,” “lower,” “aft,” “fore,” “vertical,”“horizontal,” “proximal,” “distal,” “intermediate” and the like are usedfor convenience and are not intended to imply, for example, anyparticular fixed location, orientation, or direction. Instead, suchlabels are used to reflect, for example, relative location, orientation,or directions. It should also be understood that the singular forms of“a,” “an,” and “the” include plural references unless the contextclearly dictates otherwise.

FIGS. 1A and 1B are schematic illustrations of a data storage device(e.g., a hard disk drive or Hard Disk Drive (HDD)) 100 including datastorage media or disks 102A and 102B, heads 104A and 104B for readingdata from and/or writing data to the data storage media, and an actuatormechanism to position the heads 104A and 104B. FIG. 1A illustrates a topview of a portion of data storage device 100 and includes lower datastorage material, or storage media 102B, e.g., second recording disk102B and a down or downward-facing head 104B. The down head 104Bincluding transducer elements (not shown) is positioned above the datastorage media 102B to read data from and/or write data to the disk 102B.In the embodiment shown, the disk 102B represents a rotatable disk orother storage media that include one or more magnetic, optical or otherstorage layers. For read and write operations, a spindle motor 106rotates the media 102B (and medium or disk 102A shown in FIG. 1B) asillustrated by arrow 107 and an actuator mechanism 110 positions thedown head 104B relative to data tracks on the disk 102B. The head 104Bis coupled to an arm 122 of the actuator mechanism 110. In the interestof simplification, arm 122 is shown as a single element to which head104B is coupled. However, in some embodiments, head 104B may be coupledto actuator mechanism 110 through a suspension assembly (not shown)which may include a load beam (not shown) coupled to actuator arm 122 ofthe actuator mechanism 110, for example through a swage connection.Although FIG. 1A illustrates a single arm 122 coupled to the actuatormechanism 110, additional arms 122 can be coupled to the actuatormechanism 110 to support heads that read data from or write data tomultiple disks of a disk stack. The actuator mechanism 110 isrotationally coupled to a frame or deck (not shown) to rotate about apivot shaft 119. Rotation of the actuator mechanism 110 moves the head104B in a cross-track direction as illustrated by arrow 130 and enablesmovement between an inner diameter (ID) and an outer diameter (OD) ofthe disk.

FIG. 1B illustrates a side view of the data storage device 100. FIG. 1Billustrates first or upper disk 102A and second or lower disk 102Bcoupled to spindle motor 106 and separated by a disk to disk space 111.FIG. 1B further illustrates up head 104A coupled to actuator arm 122facing upwards towards the bottom surface of the first disk 102A, anddown head 104B (also shown in FIG. 1A) facing downwards towards the topsurface of the second disk 102B. In some embodiments, heads 104A and104B may be coupled to actuator arm 122 by a load beam. The heads 104Aand 104B may be moved by actuator mechanism 110. Up head 104A may readdata from and/or write data to the storage material on the bottom ofdisk 102A, and down head 104B may read data from and/or write data tothe storage material on the top of disk 102B.

As data storage increases, the volumetric density of data storagedevices becomes an ever-greater concern when compared to areal density.One method of increasing volumetric density in an HDD involves reducingthe disk to disk spacing between the data storage media or disks.Reducing disk to disk spacing may enable an increased number of disks tobe stacked within a similar disk stack volume.

This disclosure generally describes apparatus and methods of decreasingthe disk to disk spacing by using a fewer heads than disks in the datastorage device. In such embodiments, a same head or two heads may readfrom and/or write to different disks at different times. A separationdistance between disk or disk surfaces that are not being currently readfrom or written to may be relatively small (e.g., 113 between disks 102Band 102C). To accommodate the same head or the two heads for aread/write operation, a spacing between two disks may be temporarilyincreased to, for example, 111 in FIG. 1B. As will be described indetail further below, in such embodiments, an actuator mechanism with asingle head or two heads including an up head and a down head areprovided with the ability to move up and down on the Z axis to differentdisks in the disk stack. By utilizing a single set of heads with theability to move up and down the Z axis to different disks in a stack,the volume of the disk stack and the cost for heads is reduced. Reducingthe disk to disk spacing increases the volumetric density and thereforedisk to disk space may be saved. This volumetric density has thepotential to convert, for example, a current eight-disk design into aneleven-disk design within the same form factor.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are schematic illustrations of a data storage device 200that employs two heads, including an up head and a down head which maybe vertically translated on the Z axis between a plurality of disksaccording to an embodiment of the disclosure. FIGS. 2A and 2Bincorporate similar elements from FIGS. 1A and 1B, such that FIG. 2Aillustrates a top view of a portion of data storage device 200 andincludes data storage medium or disk 102F and down head 104B.

In the embodiment shown, the down head 104B and up head 104A (seen inFIG. 2B) are provided on an actuator mechanism 210 to position the heads104A and 104B relative to the data tracks on disk 102F. Up head 104A iscoupled to actuator arm 122A and down head 104B is coupled to actuatorarm 122B. The heads 104A and 104B may also be coupled to the actuatormechanism 210 through a suspension assembly which may include a loadbeam (not shown) coupled to actuator arm 122A, 122B of the actuatormechanism 210. Actuator arms 122A and 122B are mounted on pivot shaft219, respectively, to provide rotation in a cross-track direction asillustrated by arrow 130. Thus, for read and write operations, a spindlemotor 106 rotates the disk 102F (as well as disks 102A-102I seen in FIG.1B) as illustrated by arrow 107 and actuator mechanism 210 positions theheads 104A and 104B relative to data tracks on the disk 102F in across-track motion as illustrated by arrow 130.

FIG. 2B illustrates a side view of the data storage device 200. FIG. 2Billustrates a nine-disk stack with a first or topmost disk 102A, to aninth or bottommost disk 102I coupled to spindle motor 106 and separatedby disk to disk space 211. As can be seen, disk to disk space 211provides disk separation allowing for a single head 104A, 104B betweendisks 102. Thus, disk to disk space 211 is smaller than disk to diskspace 111 of FIG. 1B, which reduces disk to disk spacing on the Z axisin a disk stack overall. Although nine disks are illustrated in the diskstack, this is exemplary only, and a plurality of disks may be used in adata storage device according to the disclosure.

FIG. 2B further illustrates up head 104A on actuator arm 122A facingupwards towards the bottom surface of disk 102F and down head 104B onactuator arm 122B facing downwards towards the top surface of disk 102F.The heads 104A and 104B may be moved by actuator mechanism 210. Actuatorarms 122A and 122B of heads 104A and 104B are coupled to pivot shaft 219and may be translatable vertically along the Z axis as illustrated byarrow 217. Actuator mechanism 210, therefore, enables heads 104A and104B to translate vertically in the Z axis, e.g., along arrow 217, toany disk 102 in a disk stack as well as to rotate in cross track motionalong arrow 130.

Actuator mechanism 210 enables the arms 122A and 122B to rotate andtranslate to allow head 104A and 104B to communicate with the datastorage material or storage media on any disk of a disk stack. Forexample, up head 104A may read data from and/or write data to thestorage material on the bottom of disk 102A, and down head 104B may readdata from and/or write data to the storage material on the top of disk102A. This action may be carried out by first rotating heads 104A, 104Bin a cross-track direction away from their current position bytranslating heads 104A, 104B until they are off their current disk,e.g., 102F. Then, actuator mechanism 210 may translate heads 104A and104B vertically on the Z axis (as indicated by arrow 217) until theyhave reached the selected disk, e.g., 102A. Actuator mechanism 210 maythen rotate heads 104A and 104B in a cross-track direction until heads104A and 104B are in communication with the data storage material ofdisk 102A. Although FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate a nine-disk stack, theseillustrations are exemplary only, and a data storage device may beprovided with a plurality of data storage media with reduced disk todisk spacing according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are a schematic illustration of a data storage device300 that employs a single set of up and down heads according to anembodiment of the disclosure. FIGS. 3A and 3B incorporate similarelements from FIGS. 2A and 2B, such that FIG. 3A illustrates a top viewof a portion of a data storage device 300 and includes a data storagemedium or disk 102 and an up head 104A.

FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate an embodiment of the present disclosurewherein the disks 102 coupled to a spindle motor 306 may be translatablevertically along the Z axis as illustrated by arrow 217. Similarly, toFIGS. 1A and 1B, in FIG. 3B up head 104A and down head 104B are coupledto actuator arm 122 such that 104A faces upwards towards the bottomsurface of a disk 102I, and down head 104B faces downwards towards thetop surface of a disk 102J. Similar to FIGS. 2A and 2B, actuator arm 122is coupled to pivot shaft 219 and may be translatable vertically alongthe Z axis as illustrated by arrow 217 or horizontally in a directionalong the X axis and/or Y axis, as illustrated by arrows 215 and 216respectively. Actuator mechanism 210, therefore, enables heads 104A and104B to translate vertically along arrow 217 in the Z axis to any disk102 in a disk stack as well as to rotate in cross track motion alongarrow 130. Translating along the X axis and Y axis enables heads 104Aand 104B to have an adjustable position on a disk 102 in the disk stack.

FIG. 3B illustrates an embodiment where data storage device 300 mayfurther increase volumetric capacity by allowing disks 102 to translatevertically and decrease their relative disk spacing to a disk to diskspacing 311. Spindle motor 306 enables disks 102 to translate verticallyalong arrow 217 in the Z axis, such that disks 102 may increase ordecrease their relative disk to disk spacing. Disk to disk spacing 311may be less than disk to disk spacing 211 of FIG. 2B. Therefore, byemploying a single set of up and down heads, heads 104A, 104B may occupya disk to disk space 111, such as between disks 102I and 102J, and theremaining disks 102 of the disk stack may occupy a reduced disk to diskspacing 311.

Actuator mechanism 210 in cooperation with spindle motor 306 enables theheads 104A and 104B to communicate with the data storage material on anydisk of a disk stack, while keeping a reduced disk to disk spacing 311.For example, if heads 104A and 104B are to read data from and/or writedata to data storage material of a disk they are not currently alignedwith, e.g., disk 102I or 102J, actuator mechanism 210 may rotate arm 122in a cross-track motion by arrow 130 until heads 104A and 104B are offthe disk. Disks 102 may then translate vertically on the Z axis (asindicated by arrow 217) on spindle 306 until disks 102 have opened adisk to disk spacing 311 to allow heads 104A and 104B to communicatewith the appropriate data storage media. Actuator mechanism 210 maytranslate heads 104A, 104B vertically on the Z axis (as indicated byarrow 217) until they have reached the selected disk, and then rotateheads 104A and 104B in a cross-track direction until heads 104A and 104Bare in communication with the appropriate data storage material.

Although FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate a fourteen-disk stack, theseillustrations are exemplary only, and a data storage device may beprovided with a plurality of data storage media with the ability toprovide reduced disk to disk spacing according to embodiments of thedisclosure. Further, while FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate a data storagedevice 300 with arm 122 coupled to heads 104A, 104B, a plurality of arms122 (e.g., 122A or 122B of FIG. 2B) may be used in conjunction withspindle motor 306 for moving disks 102 in a vertical direction.

Data storage device 300 includes heads 104A and 104B placed between twodisks, e.g., disks 102I and 102J, which will both rotate about spindlemotor 306 in direction of arrow 107 when in use. However, the remainingdisks 102 not in communication with heads 104A and 104B may remainstationary if so desired. In an example where disks 102 not incommunication remain stationary, power consumption of device 300 may bereduced.

FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate an embodiment of the present disclosuresimilar to FIGS. 3A and 3B, wherein the disks 102 coupled to spindlemotor 306 may be translatable vertically along the Z axis as illustratedby arrow 217. Similar to FIG. 2B, up head 104A is coupled on actuatorarm 122A facing upwards towards the bottom surface of an engaged disk,e.g., 102J, and down head 104B is coupled to actuator arm 122B facingdownwards towards the top surface of the engaged disk, e.g., disk 102J.The heads 104A and 104B may be moved by actuator mechanism 210. Thus,disks 102 may translate vertically along spindle 306 to enable heads104A, 104B to selectively engage any disk 102 to read data from and/orwrite data to the storage material on the bottom of disk. In oneexample, only one disk, e.g., 102J, is in motion and engaged by theheads 104A and 104B to allow communication with the storage material onthe top and bottom of the disk 102. Data storage device 400 provides anexample of an embodiment of the present disclosure when the disks 102not engaged by the heads 104A and 104B may remain stationary to furtherreduce power consumption.

FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate an embodiment of the present disclosuresimilar to FIGS. 2A and 2B and includes an alignment and positioningsystem of actuator mechanism 510. FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrates up head104A on actuator arm 122A facing upwards towards the bottom surface ofdisk 102F and down head 104B on actuator arm 122B facing downwardstowards the top surface of disk 102F. The heads 104A and 104B may bemoved by actuator mechanism 510. Actuator arms 122A and 122B of heads104A and 104B are coupled to an alignment system 520, e.g., pivot shaft519, and may be translatable vertically along the Z axis as illustratedby arrow 217.

An apparatus for improving alignment and positioning of the heads mayinclude alignment combs and a ramp load mechanism. Arms 122A and 122Bmay be coupled to alignment system 520 to position heads 104A, 104B witha disk, e.g., 102F of the disk stack. Alignment system 520 may include afirst alignment comb 519A with protrusions and a second alignment comb519B with corresponding receivers to translate the heads 104A and 104Bvertically along the Z axis as illustrated by arrow 217 and align withthe disks 102. Actuator mechanism 510, therefore, enables heads 104A and104B to translate vertically along arrow 217 in the Z axis to any disk102 in a disk stack as well as to rotate in cross track motion alongarrow 130. A ramp load mechanism 525 may be included adjacent to thedisk stack to aid in loading or unloading the heads 104A, 104B from thedisks 102. As can be seen, disk to disk space 211 provides diskseparation allowing for a single head between disks 102. Although FIGS.5A and 5B illustrate an example of a data storage device wherein thedisks 102 do not move in a vertical direction on the Z axis, datastorage device 500 may include vertical disk movement (e.g., spindlemotor 306 of FIG. 3 or 4) with features such as actuator mechanism 510,alignment system 520, or ramp load mechanism 525.

Further, the embodiments shown illustrate devices using a single pair ofup and down heads, but these illustrations are exemplary only, and adata storage device may use a plurality of up and down heads in avariety of combinations with the features described herein. For example,multiple heads 104 may be set up in a similar configuration to accessdifferent disks 102 simultaneously. Possibilities include using aplurality of actuator mechanisms, e.g., actuator mechanism 210, or aplurality of actuator arms, e.g., actuator arm 122, to support aplurality of heads 104. Multiple heads 104 may be included on the sameactuators to use the same cross-stroke, e.g., along cross disk arrow130, and vertical direction, e.g., translated vertically along the Zaxis as illustrated by arrow 217. Multiple heads may also use differentactuators to act independently and engage different disks, or differentstorage material on the same disk, simultaneously.

Actuator mechanisms may use a variety of formats to translate heads 104Aand 104B vertically along the Z axis as illustrated by arrow 217. Thesevertical actuator formats may include, but are not limited to, magneticlift systems, pully systems, or worm gear systems. Actuator mechanismsmay also include a clutch mechanism to provide further alignmentprecision and to maintain the position of the heads 104. Alternatively,actuators may include an intrinsic clutch to provide alignment andstability for the heads.

FIGS. 6A and 6B illustrate an embodiment of the present disclosure usingmagnetic film coated foil to increase volumetric density. Similar toFIGS. 3A and 3B, data storage device includes actuator arm 122 coupledto pivot shaft 219 such that actuator mechanism 210 enables heads 104Aand 104B to translate vertically along arrow 217 in the Z axis as wellas to rotate in cross track motion along arrow 130. FIGS. 6A and 6Billustrate a data storage device 600 in which the data storage media area plurality of foils 602 coated with magnetic film. A spindle motor 606rotates the media 602 as illustrated by arrow 107 and actuator mechanism210 positions the heads 104A and 104B relative to data tracks on thestorage media 602. Heads 104A and 104B may communicate with foils 602with magnetic film for reading data from and/or writing data to the datastorage media. Foils 602 with magnetic film may provide a much thinnerdata storage media, as compared to disks, such as disks 102. Spindlemotor 606 enables storage media 602 to translate vertically along arrow217 in the Z axis, such that storage media 602 may increase or decreasetheir relative spacing, similar to disk to disk spacing 111.

As seen in FIG. 6B, heads 104A and 104B may be positioned between foils602 to communicate with the magnetic media of a bottom portion of a foiland a top portion of a foil respectively and have a spacing 611 similarin size to disk to disk spacing 111 to accommodate the heads 104A, 104Bin the vertical or Z axis. As the foils 602 are rotated by spindle motor606, the foils 602 remain rigid, and the foils 602 not engaged by heads104 may become closely spaced due to centrifugal force. Thus, becausefoils 602 with magnetic film are thinner than disks 102, and may be moreclosely spaced than disks 102, they may greatly increase the volumetricdensity of a data storage device.

A variety of methods may be used to translate storage media up and downin a vertical Z axis, such as by arrow 217. FIGS. 7A and 7B illustratean embodiment of data storage device 700 using a head-based diskmovement system. FIGS. 7A and B illustrate disks 102 coupled to spindlemotor 306 and an actuator mechanism 710 to position the heads 104A, 104Brelative to the data tracks on the disks 102. Up head 104A is coupled toactuator arm 122A and down head 104B is coupled to actuator arm 122B.Clamp system 720 is provided to keep disks 102 in place when not intranslation vertically along the Z axis. As seen in FIG. 7B, ahead-based disk translation system is used to move disks 102 to theirrespective positions, such that a head 104 may be positioned by actuatormechanism 710 to an ID of disk 102 and then arm 122 may be moved ortranslated upwards or downwards according to arrow 217 to push the disks102 up or down along spindle 306. For example, actuator arm 122B may beinserted between disk 102D and disk 102E and then translated upwardsalong pivot shaft 219 to maneuver disk 102D to its respective positionon spindle 306. Once disks 102 are in place, clamp system 720 maintainsthe disks 102 in their respective position.

FIGS. 8A and 8B illustrate an embodiment of data storage device 800using a spindle shaft-based disk movement system. Similar to FIGS. 7Aand 7B, disks 102 are coupled to spindle motor 306 and an actuatormechanism 710 to position the heads 104A and 104B relative to the datatracks on the disks 102. Up head 104A is coupled to actuator arm 122Aand down head 104B is coupled to actuator arm 122B. Clamp system 720 isprovided to keep disks 102 in place when not in translation verticallyalong the Z axis. Spindle motor 306 is configured with an inner shaft820 to move disks 102 into position. For example, to provide head 104access with storage media on disks 102D and 102E, inner shaft 820 onspindle motor 306 may position disk 102D upwards and disk 102E downwardsalong arrow 817, and clamp system 720 may then maintain the disks 102 intheir respective positions. Actuator mechanism 710 may then translatearms 122A and 122B vertically along arrow 217 in the Z axis as well asto rotate arms 122A and 122B in cross track motion along arrow 130 toposition heads 104A and 104B for reading data from and/or writing datato the data storage media.

FIGS. 9A and 9B illustrate an embodiment of a data storage device 900,shown to be similar to FIGS. 5A and 5B, and includes an ID feature 915on an ID 920 of disk 102. ID feature 915 may, as a non-limiting example,be ridges, a sinusoidal wave, a square wave, a particular series ofshapes, coordinates or a combination thereof. Further, ID feature 915may be etched or printed on ID 920 or may be cut into ID 920continuously around ID 920 or may cover a selected portion of ID 920. IDfeature 915 may be symmetrical or asymmetrical about the X axis of disk102. Each disk 102 may have its own unique or individualized ID feature915 different from the other disks in disk stack 922. By way of anon-limiting example, ID feature 915 of disk 102I may be different fromID feature 915 of disk 102J.

Spindle motor 306 may be arranged inside a perimeter of ID 920 andconfigured with an access mechanism 925. Alternatively, access mechanism925 may be arranged separate but adjacent to spindle motor 306. Accessmechanism 925 may be keyed with a shape or feature that matches orcoordinates with feature 915. This may allow access to and isolate aspecified or identified single disk in order to separate it from atleast one neighboring disk. Access mechanism 925 may be matched or keyedto the identified disk and positioned at the identified disk in order toclip or grab the identified disk 102. The shape of access mechanism 925may be changed to match a different ID feature 915 by using an externalprogram which is configured to send a signal to the access mechanism 925with the assigned shape that corresponds to the identified disk. By wayof a non-limiting example, disk 102J may be marked as the identifieddisk. Disk 102J may be separated from neighboring disk 102I and/or disk102K by moving disk 102J either up or down. To move disk 102J, accessmechanism 925 is matched or keyed to feature 915 on disk 102J. Accessmechanism 925 latches or grabs onto disk 102J and moves disk 102J to aselected or different vertical location along the spindle motor 306,thereby separating disk 102J from disk 102I and/or 102K. Because accessmechanism 925 is keyed to feature 915 on disk 102J, disk 102J, as theidentified individual disk, may be selectively isolated from theneighboring disks.

Further, more than one disk 102 may be moved by access mechanism 925. Aplurality of access mechanisms 925 may move a corresponding number ofdisks 102. Alternatively, a single access mechanism may move a pluralityof disks 102 separately.

In addition to, or instead of, access mechanism 925, the spindle motor306 includes at least one air diverter 940 used to aid in separatingdisks 102 of disk stack 922. Air diverter 940 may be positioned at ID920 on the spindle and/or an OD 930 of disk stack 922. Air diverter 940provides a puff or flow of air separating one disk from another, therebyproviding space for access mechanism 925 to latch onto disk 102 and movedisk 102 to the desired location. In an alternative embodiment, airdiverter 940 provides space for arm 122 to be inserted between diskswithout the use of access mechanism 925.

FIGS. 10A and 10B illustrates an embodiment of a storage device 1000which is an alternative of storage device 900, as shown in FIGS. 9A and9B. Instead of, or in addition to, ID 920 having feature 915, OD 1020 ofdisk 102 has an OD feature 1015. OD feature 1015, as a non-limitingexample, comprises the same shape or structure as that listed inconjunction with ID feature 915. As illustrated in FIG. 10A, disk 102Ahas a different OD feature 1015 than disk 102B. By way of example, disk102A has a smooth OD feature 1015 and disk 102B has a sinusoidal ODfeature 1015 indicated by the dashed line in FIG. 10A. Each of thesubsequent disks, likewise, have a unique or different OD feature 1015.OD feature 1015 may be continuous around OD 1020 or may only cover aportion of OD 1020. Further, OD feature 1015 may be symmetrical orasymmetrical about the Z axis of disk 102. The OD feature 1015 providesa unique signature for an access mechanism 1025 to latch onto the disk.

In an embodiment, access mechanism 1025 is arranged at the OD 1030 ofdisk 102 as part of actuator mechanism 210. Alternatively, accessmechanism 1025 is arranged as a separate structure adjacent to OD 1030.Access mechanism 1025 is keyed with a shape or feature that matches orcoordinates with feature 1015. This may allow access mechanism 1025 toaccess and isolate specified single disk in order to separate it from atleast one neighboring disk. As with the embodiment discussed in relationto FIGS. 9A and 9B, access mechanism 1025 is positioned at the matchingdisk in order to clip or grab the specified disk 102, thereby separatingthe specified disk from at least one of the neighboring disks.

FIGS. 11A and 11B illustrate an embodiment of storage device 1100comprising, as a non-limiting example, actuator mechanisms 1110A, 1110Band 1110C, although storage device 1100 may include more or lessactuator mechanisms. Each of actuator mechanisms 1110A, 1110B and 1110Cmay include at least one actuator arm 122 coupled to at least one head104A and 104B. By way of a non-limiting example, actuator mechanisms1110A and 1110B may be configured similar to that illustrated in FIG.4B, each having a first actuator arm 1122A and a second actuator arm1122B. Actuator mechanism 1110C is shown to have a differentconfiguration to indicate that the arm arrangement need not be the same.As illustrated, actuator mechanism 1110C is configured similar to thatillustrated in FIG. 3B having a single arm 122 with two heads 104A and104B. While FIG. 11B is illustrated to show actuator mechanismsconfigured as in FIG. 3B and FIG. 4B, any mentioned combination ofembodiments may be used. Each actuator mechanisms 1110A, 1110B and 1110Cmay operate in cooperation or independent from that of another actuatormechanism and may be positioned such that the heads carried by actuatormechanisms 1110A and 1110B communicate with the same disk 102J in diskstack 1102 or, in an alternative arrangement, at least one head carriedby actuator mechanism 1110C may be in communication with differentdisks, for example disk 102D and disk 102E. By way of example, at leastone head carried by actuator mechanism 1110A may be configured to readdisk 102J, at least one head carried by actuator mechanism 1110B may beconfigured to write to disk 102 and at least one head carried byactuator mechanism 1110C may be configured to both read and write todisk 102C.

FIGS. 12A and 12B illustrate an embodiment of a storage device 1200having a plurality of disk stacks 1222A, 1222B, 1222C and 1222D. FIG.12A shows a first disk stack 1222A, a second disk stack 1222B, a thirddisk stack 1222C and a fourth disk stack 1222D. Although four diskstacks are shown, there may be more or less disk stacks. Each disk stack1222 may have an arrangement similar to any of the other discussedembodiments. An actuator mechanism 1210 is configured with at least oneactuator arm 122, each actuator arm 122 having at least one head 104.The at least one actuator arm 122 is configured to rotate about the Zaxis such that the at least one head 104 rotates 1230 from one diskstack to a different disk stack. The actuator arms 122 are configured tobe at least 360 degrees rotatable. Further, as discussed with theembodiment shown in FIG. 3, actuator mechanism 1210 is configured totranslate in the x-direction 215 along the x-axis, y-direction 216 alongthe y-axis and z-direction 217 along the z-axis in order to provideprecise head 104 placement on disk 102. By way of non-limiting example,the at least one head 104 may rotate 1230 from first disk stack 1222A tosecond disk stack 1222B. Actuator arm 122 may rotate from disk stack1222A to disk stack 1222B, along with translating along the Z axis inthe z-direction 217 of the actuator mechanism 1210 to a specified disk102 in disk stack 1222B. As shown in FIG. 12B, the at least one head 104of arm 122 is arranged between two disks of disk stack 1222A. Arm 122 isconfigured to rotate 1230 to disk stack 1222B where the disks in thedisk stack 1222B are translated up or down until there is a gap betweenthe desired disks. The arm 122 is translated along the z-direction 217along the z-axis until it reaches the desired height. The arm 122 isthen rotated 1230 to a different disk stack i.e. disk stack 1222B-D. Thedisks 102 in disk stack 1222A either remain in the position they wereleft in to conserve energy, or the disks are translated such that thereis no gap between them in order to conserve space.

FIG. 13 illustrates an embodiment of a storage device 1300 comprising aplurality of disk stacks 1322 and a plurality of actuator mechanisms1310. Storage device 13000 includes disk stacks 1322A-1322H withactuator mechanism 1310A-1310C. There may be more or less disk stacks1322 and there may be more or less actuator mechanisms. Further,although a 4×2 arrangement of disk stacks is illustrated, otherdimensions may also be used. Actuator arm 122 of actuator mechanism1310A may rotate 1340, either clock-wise or counterclockwise, about theZ axis to disk stack 1322A, 1322B, 1322C or 1322D. Likewise, actuatorarm 122 of actuator mechanism 1310B may rotate 1340 about the Z axis todisk stack 1322C, 1322D, 1322E or 1322F. Actuator arm 122 of actuatormechanism 1310C may rotate 1340 about the Z axis to disk stack 1322E,1322F, 1322G or 1322H. Further, each of the actuator mechanisms1310A-1310C may be configured to translate in the x-direction 215 and/orthe y-direction 216. The actuator mechanism may be configured similar toany of the described embodiments. Further, as with the actuatormechanism described in the embodiment shown in FIG. 12B, each actuatorarm 122 may translate along the Z axis in the z-direction 217 of theactuator mechanism 1312 to a specified disk 102 in disk stack 1322.

FIGS. 14A and 14B illustrates another embodiment of a storage device1400. The storage device 1400 includes at least one arm stack 1415A,1415B, each arm stack 1415A-B comprising a plurality of arms 1420A,1420B, 1420C. Each of the plurality of arms 1420A-C includes a head1425. The arm stack may comprise additional or fewer arms thanillustrated in FIGS. 14A and 14B. Further, although two arm stacks1415A-B are illustrated in FIGS. 14A and 14B, there may be more armstacks or a single arm stack. Arm stacks 1415A-B provide a jointlessconnection between arms 1420A-C such that a movement performed by onearm is performed by all of the arms. Thus, arms 1420A-C rotate in unisonand the arm stack 1415 are configured to move along the z-axis,positioning arms 1420A-C between a different set of disks. Thisembodiment allows the storage device 1400 to have a reduced number ofheads 1425 and pre-amp channels than the case of an arm arrangementstationary in the sense that it does not move along the z-axis.

In an embodiment, the arms are arranged such that every other disk isarranged with a head 1425, the head 1425 may be arranged to read/writefrom the top of disk and/or the bottom of the disk. Thus, a disk may bearranged with one or two heads. In another embodiment, the number ofarms is reduced such that there are only two heads, the uppermost headbeing arranged as a down head and the bottommost head being arranged asan up head, such that the uppermost head is arranged over the topsurface of a disk 102 and the bottommost head is arranged over thebottom side of the same disk. This embodiment is advantageous as itallows the disks to remain in the same position along the z-axis, whilestill reducing the number of arms in the disk storage drive.

In addition to the arm stacks 1415A-B, an embodiment of storage device1400 further includes at least one ramp 1430A-B, where the number oframps corresponds to the number of heads in the storage device 1400,such that each head has a resting place on the at least one ramp. Anelevator mechanism enables arm stack 1415A-B and ramp 1430A-B to move,in some embodiments the arm stack 1415A-B and the corresponding ramp1430 A-B move in unison. A particular embodiment of the elevatormechanism is described in further detail below in connection with FIG.16. When the arm stack 1415A-B is to be repositioned to a differentlocation from the current location in order to access a different disk,the elevator mechanism moves the corresponding ramp 1430A-B. In anembodiment, the ramp 1430 and the arm stack 1415 are connected to thesame actuator or elevator mechanism enabling the arm stack 1415A-B andthe ramp 1430A-B to move together.

In an alternative embodiment of a storage device 1500 illustrated inFIGS. 15A and 15B, a two-stop elevator system comprises at least fourheads 1525 and four preamp channels. The heads 1525 are moved in unisonsuch that they initially access two disks (e.g., disk 102 b and disk 102d shown in FIG. 15A), and when they move, the heads access disks 102 aand 102 c shown in FIG. 15B.

In an alternative arrangement, the arms may be arranged such that theheads 1525 access the bottom or the top half of, for example, afour-disk stack. By way of example, the arms in arm stack 1515 arearranged to access disks 102 d and 102 c and are then moved in unison toaccess disks 102 b and 102 a. The arm stack 1515 is also movable in theopposite direction back to disk 102 c and 102 d. As discussed above, theembodiment illustrated in FIGS. 15A and 15B may also include a moveableramp 1430 which follows the movement of the heads 1525 such that themovable ramp 1430 moves in unison with the heads 1525.

Alternatively, storage device 1500 may be configured with a multi-stopelevator. As an alternative to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 15A and15B, storage device 1500 may include two heads 1525 of the four headsillustrated with two preamp channels, where the heads 1525 access asingle disk. The heads may be moved from disk to disk. By way ofexample, the heads may be moved from disk 102 d to disk 102 a, or fromdisk 102 d to disk 102 c. The reduction of the number of heads andpreamp channels allows for a reduction in cost.

In the different embodiments described above, moveable pieces withinstorage devices may be enclosed in membranes or bellows in order toprevent contaminates or particles from reaching the disks/heads. In theparticular embodiment shown in FIGS. 15A and 15B, an example of bellows1530 is illustrated. In this embodiment, an E-block 1545 moves along andabout a stationary shaft 1519. E-block 1545 includes arm stack 1515.Linear or rotary movement along or about shaft 1519 may create friction.To prevent contaminates or particles, which may be emitted from themovement of E-block 1545 along shaft 1519, from entering the disk/headspace, bellows 1530 are arranged around shaft 1519 at each end ofE-block 1545 and in connection with E-block 1545. Bellows 1530 areflexible and able to expand and contract as arm stack 1515 and E-block1545 move up and down along shaft 1519. Thus, as E-block 1545 moves,particles are contained between E-block 1545 and shaft 1519 by bellows1530.

FIG. 16 illustrates an embodiment of an elevator 1600 for the moveableramp and the arms, allowing them to move in unison. Elevator 1600comprises an upper portion 1601 and a lower portion 1602. Each portionhaving a flexible first end 1630 and a flexible second end 1632. The armstack 1415 and moveable ramp 1430 are positioned between the upperportion 1601 and the lower portion 1602 and are connected together via abase 1620, thus when the arm stack 1415 moves, the moveable ramp movesalso. The elevator may be driven up and down by a coil and a magnet (notshown) with hard stops at both ends. Thus, when driven up, the arm stack1415 and the moveable ramp 1430 are stopped by an upper limit of thesystem. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 16, the upper limitcomprises a stopper 1650 arranged with the moveable ramp 1430. Theflexible first end 1630 of the upper portion 1601 reaches the stopper1650 of the moveable ramp and halts the upward movement. In the downwardmovement, the movement may be stopped by the base 1420 reaching theflexible first end 1630 of the lower portion 1602 which halts theprogression of the downward movement. This arrangement may beadvantageously pre-assembled before being placed into a form factor fora disc drive and further allows for a gain in areal density and/or animproved throughput performance. Further, this arrangement reduces thenumber of moving parts in a disk drive.

Although the various embodiments and figures illustrate storage deviceswith various numbers of storage media in a stack, these illustrationsare exemplary only, and a data storage device may be provided with aplurality of data storage media with the ability to provide reduced diskto disk spacing according to embodiments of the disclosure.

The illustrations of the embodiments described herein are intended toprovide a general understanding of the structure of the variousembodiments. The illustrations are not intended to serve as a completedescription of all of the elements and features of apparatus and systemsthat utilize the structures or methods described herein. Many otherembodiments may be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewingthe disclosure. Other embodiments may be utilized and derived from thedisclosure, such that structural and logical substitutions and changesmay be made without departing from the scope of the disclosure.Additionally, the illustrations are merely representational andtherefore are not drawn to scale. Certain proportions within theillustrations may be exaggerated, while other proportions may bereduced. Accordingly, the disclosure and the figures are to be regardedas illustrative rather than restrictive.

Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and describedherein, it should be appreciated that any subsequent arrangementdesigned to achieve the same or similar purpose may be substituted forthe specific embodiments shown. This disclosure is intended to cover anyand all subsequent adaptations or variations of various embodiments.Combinations of the above embodiments, and other embodiments notspecifically described herein, will be apparent to those of skill in theart upon reviewing the description.

In addition, in the foregoing Detailed Description, various features maybe grouped together or described in a single embodiment for the purposeof streamlining the disclosure. This disclosure is not to be interpretedas reflecting an intention that the claimed embodiments employ morefeatures than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as thefollowing claims reflect, inventive subject matter may be directed toless than all of the features of any of the disclosed embodiments.

The above-disclosed subject matter is to be considered illustrative, andnot restrictive, and the appended claims are intended to cover all suchmodifications, enhancements, and other embodiments, which fall withinthe true spirit and scope of the present disclosure. Thus, to themaximum extent allowed by law, the scope of the present disclosure is tobe determined by the broadest permissible interpretation of thefollowing claims and their equivalents and shall not be restricted orlimited by the foregoing detailed description.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system comprising: at least one storage mediastack, each storage media stack comprising: a rotatable spindle; aplurality of storage media mounted on the rotatable spindle, each of theplurality of storage media having an inner diameter and an outerdiameter, at least one of the inner diameter and the outer diameter ofeach of the plurality of storage media having a feature configured toidentify each storage media individually to an access mechanism; atleast one actuator mechanism with at least one actuator arm configuredto translate, along a length of at least one axis, among the pluralityof storage media of the at least one storage media stack; and at leastone head supported on the at least one actuator arm, each of the atleast one head is configured to communicate with the plurality ofstorage media of the at least one storage media stack.
 2. The system ofclaim 1 and further comprising the access mechanism configured to matchthe feature of the identified individual storage medium.
 3. The systemof claim 2 and wherein the access mechanism is configured to latch ontothe identified individual storage media and translate the identifiedstorage media along an axis of the rotatable spindle.
 4. The system ofclaim 1 and further comprising and air diverter configured to provide apuff of air between adjacent storage media to separate one storagemedium from another.
 5. The system of claim 1 and wherein the at leastone actuator mechanism comprises a single actuator mechanism that isconfigured to access a plurality of storage media stacks.
 6. The systemof claim 1 and wherein the at least one actuator mechanism comprises aplurality of actuator mechanisms configured to access the storage mediastack.
 7. The system of claim 6 and wherein at least one of theplurality of actuator mechanisms is configured to communicate with adifferent storage medium.
 8. The system of claim 6 and wherein theplurality of actuator mechanisms are configured to communicate with asame storage media.
 9. The system of claim 1 and wherein a plurality ofactuator mechanisms is configured to access a plurality of storage mediastacks.
 10. The system of claim 9 and wherein the at least one actuatorarm is configured to rotate among at least two of the plurality ofstorage media stacks.
 11. The system of claim 1 and wherein the at leastone actuator arm comprises a single actuator arm having the at least onehead.
 12. The system of claim 1 and wherein the at least one actuatorarm comprises a plurality of actuator arms with each of the plurality ofactuator arms having the at least one head.
 13. The system of claim 1and wherein the plurality of storage media comprises a plurality ofrecording disks.
 14. A system comprising: at least one disk stack, eachdisk stack comprising: a rotatable spindle; a plurality of storage mediamounted on the rotatable spindle; a plurality of actuator mechanisms,each actuator mechanism having at least one actuator arm configured torotate about an axis of the actuator mechanism and trans late along alength of at least one axis; and at least one head supported on the atleast one actuator arm of each of the plurality of actuator mechanisms,each of the at least one head configured to communicate with one of theplurality of storage media.
 15. The system of claim 14 and wherein theplurality of actuator arms is fewer than the plurality of storage media.16. The system of claim 14 and wherein the plurality of actuator armscomprises an arm stack, the arm stack having a jointless connectionbetween each of the plurality of actuator arms.
 17. The system of claim14 and wherein the plurality of storage media comprises a plurality ofrecording disks.
 18. A method comprising: providing a plurality ofstorage media stacks, each storage media stack comprising a plurality ofstorage media mounted on a rotatable spindle; and providing an actuatormechanism having at least one actuator arm supporting at least one head,the actuator arm being capable of rotating about an axis of the actuatormechanism and translating along at least one axis among the plurality ofstorage media on each of the plurality of storage media stacks.
 19. Themethod of claim 18 and wherein the at least one actuator mechanism isconfigured to translate along an x-, y- and z-axis.
 20. The method ofclaim 18 and further comprising providing an access mechanism formatching to the feature of the identified individual storage media.